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Safety Alert: If you believe your computer activities are being monitored, please access this site from a safer computer. To immediately exit this site, click the escape button. If you are in immediate danger, contact 911, a local crisis line, or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224.

The National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities is a network of individuals and organizations committed to improving the health and well-being of Latin@ communities. Led by Casa de Esperanza, the network aims to build bridges and connections among research, practice and policy to advance effective responses to eliminate violence and promote healthy relationships. In order to effectively pursue this goal we have created a number of resources targeting both the individuals affected by domestic violence as well as the organizations dedicated to serving them.

Developed by the National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities, a project of Casa de Esperanza

The content of this resource is primarily intended for community-based organizations and seeks to provide practitioners with accessible language to describe the trauma-informed/culturally specific overlap of their work.

Developed by Mujeres Latinas en Acción and the National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities, a project of Casa de Esperanza

This publication highlights the history and importance of VAWA legislation for Latina and immigrant victims, provides an assessment of recent VAWA reauthorization efforts, and makes recommendations for moving forward.

Culture as a Resource for Organizational Development

Developed by the National Latin@ Network, a project of Casa de Esperanza, in collaboration with the Cultural Wellness Center, Minneapolis, MN. This resource also includes a Self-Reflection Handout.

The National Latin@ Network collaborated with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence on the translation of the Speaker's Guide, a guide for survivors that are considering sharing their stories publicly.The National Latin@ Network provided feedback and additional resources to make this guide more culturally relevant to Latin@ communities.

Working with Latin@ Communities

In 2010 Casa de Esperanza referred 9 community-based, domestic violence programs for a study aiming to identify program characteristics, understand racial/ethnic group differences, develop recommendations for the field, establish what services domestic violence survivors want and determine if these services were being provided. The following summary of results gives Casa de Esperanza a more accurate picture of the demographic we serve and how we can better serve them in the future.

Of the 192 survivor participants, 96.6% were immigrants, and almost 90% responded in Spanish. Linguistic and cultural barriers represent one of the most difficult challenges for many victims to overcome (see Limited English Proficiency), and can lead to isolation from the community, discrimination and a general lack of knowledge or misinformation regarding the U.S. legal system and its available resources. Those that participated in the study expressed a desire to learn English and receive interpretation when necessary. As a Latina organization, in both staffing and approach, Casa has risen to not only meet the language needs of those we serve but also to create a culturally familiar environment that facilitates a number of other services.

The overwhelming majority of participants were relatively young, between the ages of 21 and 30 with more than half indicating they had not received their high-school diploma. A similar number expressed that they struggled to pay their bills and almost 40% has a financial status that was worse than only two years before. Given this information it is clear that the need for services catering to young adults and providing financial aid is higher than ever.

By incorporating the voice of participants through the use of questionnaires, advisory groups and informal conversations Casa de Esperanza has been able to better target services for the victims we serve.

In addition the study reflected a number of key things that will help Casa de Esperanza continue providing the best service possible:

Programs and services need to continue being supported: Of those aware of the program more than a third visited over 20 times.

Non-residential services and supports provided to domestic violence survivors are varied and complex, responding to the needs of very diverse survivors: Every population is different and each organization needs to assess its unique demographic when deciding what services to provide.

Training about diversity and the presence of diverse staff are essential for survivors who require culturally-specific responses to their needs. Language and cultural barriers can often lead to avoidance of programs and services that may be of assistance. It is important to maintain a staff that can relate and identify with the needs of the individuals served.

Child and youth witnesses’ needs must be considered as a prime goal of interventions: Children who witness domestic violence are more likely to become victims or perpetrators later in life. It is important to prioritize the needs of families with children exposed to domestic violence.

The voices of survivors must continue to be invited so they can guide the work we do in community: In order to continually combat domestic violence organizations should receive feedback using it to direct the nature of their work.

If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic violence and wants to access resources and support, please click here to be routed to the Casa de Esperanza website where you can access this information.

The National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities is a project of Casa de Esperanza that builds bridges and connections among research, practice and policy to advance effective responses to eliminate domestic violence and to promote healthy relationships within Latin@ families and communities. LEARN MORE